Cartridge Accumulator

Abstract

A filter manifold is provided for processing fluid being provided to a fluid dispenser, featuring a new and unique combination of a mounting bracket, a filter cartridge and an accumulator cartridge. The mounting bracket is configured with porting connections. The filter cartridge may include a filter cartridge porting connection configured to plumb into one of the porting connections on the mounting bracket and also configured to filter the fluid being provided to the fluid dispenser. The accumulator cartridge includes an accumulator cartridge porting connection configured to plumb into another one of the porting connections on the mounting bracket and also configured to receive, accumulate and provide the fluid to the filter cartridge to be filtered before being provided to the fluid dispenser.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A filter manifold for processing fluid being provided for dispensing, including to a fluid dispenser, comprising:
 a mounting bracket configured with porting connections;   a filter cartridge having a filter cartridge porting connection configured to plumb into one of the porting connections on the mounting bracket and also configured to filter the fluid being provided for dispensing, including to the fluid dispenser; and   an accumulator cartridge having an accumulator cartridge porting connection configured to plumb into another one of the porting connections on the mounting bracket and also configured to receive, accumulate and provide the fluid for dispensing, including to the filter cartridge to be filtered before being provided to the fluid dispenser.   
     
     
         2 . A filter manifold according to  claim 1 , wherein the accumulator cartridge porting connection matches the filter cartridge porting connection, so that the filter cartridge and the accumulator cartridge can be mounted on the mounting bracket of the filter manifold. 
     
     
         3 . A filter manifold according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter cartridge comprises a two part filter cartridge construction, having a top filter cartridge cap configured with a threaded top filter cartridge connection and a bottom filter cartridge configured with a corresponding threaded bottom filter cartridge connection for coupling to the threaded top filter cartridge connection. 
     
     
         4 . A filter manifold according to  claim 3 , wherein the top filter cartridge cap comprises a bypass handle configured to rotate to a bypass mode setting in relation to the porting connections of the mounting bracket to bypass the filter cartridge; and
 configured to rotate to a normal mode setting in relation to the porting connections of the mounting bracket to allow fluid to pass through the filter cartridge.   
     
     
         5 . A filter manifold according to  claim 1 , wherein the accumulator cartridge comprises a two part accumulator cartridge construction, having a top accumulator cartridge cap configured with a threaded top accumulator cartridge connection and a bottom accumulator cartridge configured with a corresponding threaded bottom accumulator cartridge connection for coupling to the threaded top accumulator cartridge connection. 
     
     
         6 . A filter manifold according to  claim 5 , wherein the top accumulator cartridge cap comprises a bypass handle configured to rotate to a bypass mode setting in relation to the porting connections of the mounting bracket to bypass the accumulator cartridge; and configured to rotate to a normal mode setting in relation to the porting connections of the mounting bracket to allow fluid to pass to and from the accumulator cartridge. 
     
     
         7 . A filter manifold according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom accumulator cartridge comprises a cartridge housing having a diaphragm configured therein to form a fluid chamber for accumulating the fluid and a precharged gas chamber for containing a precharge gas. 
     
     
         8 . A filter manifold according to  claim 7 , wherein the bottom accumulator cartridge comprises an air valve configured to receive the precharge gas for precharging the precharge chamber. 
     
     
         9 . A filter manifold according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter manifold comprises a motor pump cartridge having a motor pump cartridge porting connection configured to plumb into another one of the porting connections on the mounting bracket and also configured to provide the fluid to the accumulator cartridge before being provided to the filter cartridge. 
     
     
         10 . A filter manifold according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter manifold forms part of a beverage application. 
     
     
         11 . A filter manifold according to  claim 1 , wherein the beverage application includes a beverage dispenser, an ice maker, or a coffee brewer. 
     
     
         12 . A filter manifold according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter manifold forms part of a reverse osmosis system.